Picture-frame



{No ModeL) L. R. HARSHA.

PICTURE FRAME.

Folgf UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LESLIE R. HARSHA, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PICTURE-FRAM E.

EPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 314,832, dated March 31, 1885.

Application filed October 29, 1883. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LESLIE R. HARSHA, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Picture-Frames; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. v

This invention relates to novel features of construction in frames for pictures, mirrors, and similar purposes, and more particularly in frames constructed of two or more parts or moldings by which the desired increase of breadth or depth is imparted to the frame, be ing in this respect a construction well known.

The invention has for its object to provide a construction whereby the joints of the inner molding or part of the frame may be concealed, and whereby at the same time an ornamental effect is produced in the frame as a whole.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a duplex or two-part frame provided with my improvement. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view showing a corner of the frame enlarged and provided with my improvement. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through at w of Fig. 2, looking toward the adjacent ver; tical part of the frame. Fig. 4 is a rear view of one corner or angle of the frame in which both parts or moldings of the duplex frame have their joints mitered. Fig. 5 is a similar or rear view of a corner of the frame, showing the outer molding of the frame mitered and the inner molding dadoed.

A represents the outer or principal part of the frame; B, the inner part, said parts being constructed from separate moldings and applied to each other in the familiar manner illus trated in the sectional part of Fig. 3.

C is a thin angular piece of wood or other substance having two of its edges at right angles with each other, and the third commonly of fanciful contour and usually having one of its broader surfaces ornamented by carving, pressing, or other suitable means. This angular piece C is placed in a rabbet, a, formed in the inner surface of the molding A, and said piece C therefore lies within or at the rear of the plane of the front face of said molding. Said angular ornamental piece C is made of sufficient breadth in its central portion to cover the joint of the interior molding, B, as shown, and thereby operates to con- V ceal saidjoint from view, while at the same time serving as an ornament forthe improvement of the general appearance of the frame. Defects in the joint of the inner part, B, of the frame are very likely to be present, especially in the cheaper order of frames, unless very particular pains be taken to avoid them, which is of course calculated to materially increase their cost. In the use of the cornerpiece C these are hidden, and by the use of said piece, also, the dado form of joint shown in Fig. 5 is rendered practicable for the inner molding, B, which form of joint may frequent- 1y be the more economical of material and the more readily constructed.

By forming a rabbet or an equivalent groove on the inner margin of the frame A, a ledge is provided at a for the level support of the corner-piece C, and by making said angular piece to fit against the outer shoulder or surface, a, said piece, by applying a little glue to its edge, may be quickly and accurately inserted in the frame and permanently fastened in place.

The angular corner-piece C thus applied has an effect of materially strengthening the frame aside from its principal office above set forth. Strengtheningpieces having been heretofore otherwise applied to the corners of frames, however, I do not broadly claim the corner-piece as a brace, but restrict my claim to the combination of the angular piece with the two-part frame composed of the parts A and B, when said angle-piece is located upon a ledge, a, Within the angle of the outer part, A, and is constructed to cover and conceal the joint of the inner portion, B.

I am aware that it has been proposed heretofore to construct a frame composed of a single part or molding with angular ornamental corner-piecessecured by dowel-pinsto the front face of the frame, so as to partially cover the joint between the parts of the frame. Acorher-piece of this character is, on account of its exposed position, obviously liable to become loosened or broken off in handling or packing, and such corner-piece is inapplicable to a Well-known and popular form of frame in which the main parts or moldings have flat faces of wood veneer or other material, and are united at the corners of the frame with miterjoints. The corner-piece herein described differs from those above mentioned in being secured at its edges in a groove or rabbet formed in the main edges of the outer part or molding, so that the said corner-piece may V be readily and firmly secured in place by glue alone and without the use of dowel-pins. The said corner-piece also is located at the rear of the plane of the front face of said molding, so that it is not apt to be accidentally struck in handling and packing the frame, and in such position that the joints between the parts of the inner molding of the frame are covered, while those of the outer molding are unconcealed.

By making the molding A with the rabbet or groove at its inner edge said groove or rabbet serves both as a seat for the cornerpiece and as one of the ornamental parts of the molding. This feature of construction is especially important in the manufacture of frames of different sizes from moldings, inasmuch as by its use the molding to form the parts of the frame may be cut to the desired lengths and secured together and the cornerpieces thereafter secured in place without the necessity for any special fitting of the parts.

I claim as my invention- A two-part jointed frame comprising a part or molding, A, provided upon its inner edge with a ledge, a, and shoulder a, forming a groove or rabbet, an inner part or molding, B, and a corner-piece, O, fitted and secured at its edge in the said groove or rabbet, with its front face at the rear of the front face of the part A, and extending inwardly over the joint between the parts of the molding B, so as to conceal the said joint, substantially as, described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as LESLIE R. HARSHA.

Witnesses:

G. CLARENCE PooLE, P. J. ELLERT. 

